How to find "great finds"?

[sapphiredream]

Could anyone here recommend any strategies, places to look or any other advice on how to find a truly FINE estate/pre-owned jewelry at a significantly better price than what that piece would have retailed for or new custom?
Is such a thing even possible or do only "meh" pieces end up in "estate sales" ?

Pretty much everything I have seen "estate/pre-owned" in local jewelry stores is underwhleming.

Main problems include dark, flat, blah stones or dainty, flimsy, or very common settings with no heft.
The very few I have seen with hefty settings tend to be clunky or frumpy.

Any links to specific estate jewelry sites with fine pieces would be appreciated also (if allowed).

 

[sapphiredream]

Hmmm...so Etsy's where it's at.
I thought Ebay but it looks like Etsy is considered more "vibrant" nowadays - at least from an estate jewelry perspective.

Thank you!

 

[Snowdrop13]

Also, if you find a piece you like, sometimes the seller will have it listed on their own website or elsewhere, like Rubylane and the price might be lower there. I saw a ring I loved on Etsy and found the seller was having a sale on Rubylane, so the price was about 25% lower!

 

[dkata]

I just stumbled across a Seller on Etsy named YourJewelryFinder. This shop has incredible beautiful and unique pieces. Unfortunately I don’t have the founds now, but I really would like to buy a lot of things from there.

 

[marymm]

^ the etsy vendor YourJewelryFinder is also Jewelry Finds LLC with a standlone website and also a store (same name) on RubyLane. The standalone website often has videos of items also listed on her etsy and RubyLane sites.

My experience: I purchased a vintage diamond ring from the RubyLane store some years back. A couple years after that, I decided to re-sell it to a highly reputable antique store. Upon receipt the buyer at the antique store evaluated the ring to have diamond specs appreciably different (lesser/lower) than listed/estimated by Jewelry Finds. The antique store was still willing to purchase it from me but at a reduced price from their initial estimate. Instead, I reached out to Jewelry Finds and told the original vendor what had transpired. Due in large part to the fact the antique store I had been going to re-sell to has a sterling and national reputation, such that its evaluation would be recognized as valid, she asked that I send back the ring so she could re-examine it. I did so, and after her re-inspection, we agreed a full refund of my original purchase price would be fair.

Based on my experience, while I do think Jewelry Finds has good customer service and stood by their product in my situation, much of their inventory consists of diamond pieces without diamond grading reports. As such, personally I would only re-purchase from the vendor again if I were to have an appraisal performed while within the return period, just to ensure the diamond specs are approximately as described by the vendor.

 

[YadaYadaYada]

One of my very best finds came from an antique store, I paid based on the aesthetic and gold just in case the diamonds weren't real. They were though so I was happy with that.

Have found a lot of nice things on Etsy, also a lot of sellers will work with you on the price, a couple of my most recent purchases both sellers offered $40 less than the asking price just by me asking.

 

[metall]

Very cool thread. I sometimes see pieces at estate sales where older people have passed away, the one qualm I have about buying from these sales is that if the paperwork is present, the pieces are priced accordingly. If there is no paperwork, you're really just guessing a lot of times.

 

[Bron357]

If you’re dedicated great buys can still be found on eBay. Basically you’re looking for pre loved and someone selling grandmas / aunties unwanted ring or what have you. I always look for the 18ct rings, usually better quality gems. It’s harder now, but you can get lucky. Also the website “invaluable.com” lets you bid on Auctions worldwide. In particular check out the UK auctions - things to die for. The buying commissions are pretty hefty, plus shipping plus customs (if applicable) but if you’re looking for antique jewelry this is the place to search.

 

[LLJsmom]

Keep stalking Pricescope and keep an eye on new rings as they get completed. Pricescopers will let go of rings you would NEVER have anticipated that they would sell. Often times they list it in Pre-loved before they ship it to the consignors. Snap it up Before it goes on consignment.

 

[Octo2005]

Keep stalking Pricescope and keep an eye on new rings as they get completed. Pricescopers will let go of rings you would NEVER have anticipated that they would sell. Often times they list it in Pre-loved before they ship it to the consignors. Snap it up Before it goes on consignment.

As a lurker for some time now, I have noticed this also. Why do you suppose that this happens so often? Many times they have owned the item for less than a year and have threads on the often long journey to the finished piece.

 

[sapphiredream]

Thank you all so much! Some valuable information here. I am SO ready to just find an estate piece and call it a day!

 

[totallyfree]

1. Know what you want, what you don't want, and what you can compromise on. IE, I wanted an antique stone with double claw prongs, didn't want white metal and could compromise on the rest.
2. Know what the market rate is for your fav insta/etsy sellers and PS specials. If I wanted to pay $15-$20k I could have purchased what I wanted out right.
3. Keep hunting. As soon as I found Old World Diamonds and saw this ring I was in love. That was it for me.

 

[totallyfree]

Also the website “invaluable.com” lets you bid on Auctions worldwide.

Also, that's like a Leon Mege catalogue!

 

[dkata]

^ the etsy vendor YourJewelryFinder is also Jewelry Finds LLC with a standlone website and also a store (same name) on RubyLane. The standalone website often has videos of items also listed on her etsy and RubyLane sites.

My experience: I purchased a vintage diamond ring from the RubyLane store some years back. A couple years after that, I decided to re-sell it to a highly reputable antique store. Upon receipt the buyer at the antique store evaluated the ring to have diamond specs appreciably different (lesser/lower) than listed/estimated by Jewelry Finds. The antique store was still willing to purchase it from me but at a reduced price from their initial estimate. Instead, I reached out to Jewelry Finds and told the original vendor what had transpired. Due in large part to the fact the antique store I had been going to re-sell to has a sterling and national reputation, such that its evaluation would be recognized as valid, she asked that I send back the ring so she could re-examine it. I did so, and after her re-inspection, we agreed a full refund of my original purchase price would be fair.

Based on my experience, while I do think Jewelry Finds has good customer service and stood by their product in my situation, much of their inventory consists of diamond pieces without diamond grading reports. As such, personally I would only re-purchase from the vendor again if I were to have an appraisal performed while within the return period, just to ensure the diamond specs are approximately as described by the vendor.

Marymm - thank you for this information! I haven’t bought from them anything yet, but I’m sure I’m going to look better next time.

 

[RetroTreeGal]

As a lurker for some time now, I have noticed this also. Why do you suppose that this happens so often? Many times they have owned the item for less than a year and have threads on the often long journey to the finished piece.

I second this question. I'm always surprised when this happens. Are people just that bored with life?

 

[msop04]

I second this question. I'm always surprised when this happens. Are people just that bored with life?

Yep... also, you can love a style on someone else, but it may not look as good on you when received. Styles change and people get antsy for the newest thing hot off the bench! I'm guilty of this as well, just don't have the funds to buy then sell, taking a hit financially.

 

[Niel]

I enjoy the process of making items. The. When I’m done I realize it was more fun to make than wear. So I sell it.

As for finding “deals” you’ll find most people don’t like to give up their secrets.

 

[sapphiredream]

I enjoy the process of making items. The. When I’m done I realize it was more fun to make than wear. So I sell it.

As for finding “deals” you’ll find most people don’t like to give up their secrets.

\

Don't you lose some money in the process? Or do you consider that the cost of the fun?

As for people who don't like to give up "jewelry find" secrets...hmm, yeah...I guess there are some of those too; but is it "most"?.

I didn't realize that...so maybe this this is the reason I can't find any good "finds".
Most keep it a secret.

 

[Niel]

\

Don't you lose some money in the process? Or do you consider that the cost of the fun?

As for people who don't like to give up "jewelry find" secrets...hmm, yeah...I guess there are some of those too; but is it "most"?.

I didn't realize that...so maybe this this is the reason I can't find any good "finds".
Most keep it a secret.

Do I loose money? Some I do some I don’t. I don’t go into any ring making assuming I will sell it- but if I don’t wear it it’s more a waste to keep it than sell it.

And yes “most” people I know who try to find bargains online or in pawn shops aren’t inclined to increase competition by telling you how to find the jewels they’re looking for.

 

[doberman]

If you’re dedicated great buys can still be found on eBay. Basically you’re looking for pre loved and someone selling grandmas / aunties unwanted ring or what have you. I always look for the 18ct rings, usually better quality gem.

Yes.